Attachment for tractors



E. G. WROUGHTON. ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS.

. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30,1921. 1,420, 174.. Patented June 20, 1922.

wuemtoz me s/nap E. G. WROUGHTON. ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1921.

il hi T QFMQE.

0F NELSON, NEBRASKA.

ATTACHMEIBTT FUR TRAOTORS.

Application filed June 30,

State of Yeln'aslnr have invented certain new and nsetnlin:proven'ienijs in .ittachinenis lor lracloi's: and I do declare the folowing to he a i'ulh clear. and cxa ,t dcription oi the invention suchas will enab e others skilled in he art to which it a niertains to maleand use the same.

This invention relates to an improved attachment 'li'or trM-toi's andthe like. the same hcine; especially desioned to be associated with theilrav -hir, with whi h such machines are usually cqui jipcch toaiitomatically move the draw-har lmrizontally across the rear end o lthe tractor when the latter is making a turn at the end of the field totravel in an opposite dirml-tion. the iinprtwed attachment l'iein c"such that it .auses the trailer vehicle to accurately follow in thetracks oi the tractor or lead vehicle.

The principal object of the invention is to generally improve upondevices oi this class by the provision of one of extreme simplicity anddurahility embodying extremely few simple and inexpensive parts whichare so arranged as to not easily get out oiworking order. theconstruction and arrangement being such that the device is renderedextremely practical and effectively aec m.plishcs the desired ends.

Another and very important object of the invention is to provide anattachment of the above class which embodies a feed screw fordisposition at the rear end of the tracton the draw-bar or otherhitching; device being: connected to and movable along the screw andwhen reaching a predetermined point. actuating certain mechanism whichin turn actuatcs a clutch to change the direction of rotation of thescrew and automatically re verse the direction of: movement of thehitching; device.

Another object oi? the invention is to provide an attachment oi thisclass embodying the a toresaid construction together with means Forco-operation with the hitchingdevice so that when the latter on itsreturn to the center of the screw will engage such means and return theclutch operating lever to neutral. position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthecourse of the following description.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1922.

Serial No. 481,578

1 this specification and in which like .i 'als are employed to designatelike pairs throunhout the some:

Figure l a perspective view of the rear end oi" a tractor equipped witha draw-bar shilling attachment constructed in accordance with thisinvention, the parts of said at tchinent being; shown in their normalinoperative position.

Figure a rear end elevational view, f li'li parts of the various detailsbroken a wav and shown in section, the clutch operating lever beingheldin one of its operative positions.

Figure 3 an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on theplane of the of Fig. 2. iv described, the improved draw-bar shittingattachment comprises a feed-screw adapted to he rotatably mounted on therear end of the platform of a tractor or other suitable pulling machine.Connected to this screw through the medium of. a travelling hlock is thedraw-bar or other hitching means with which the tractor is usuallyequipped. Gearing is loosely mounted on the screw and means isassociated with this gearingfor rotating it in either of two directionsa clutch being employed for coupling the desired near to the screw forretation with the latten and this clutch is 0pc atcc by a hand actuatedlever which is connected thereto through the medium of suitable linkage.As before indicated, novel means in the form of a trip serves to re tainthe hand lever in one of its operative i'iosiiions and this trip isreleased when the hitching; device engages it, this causing a reverserotation of the screw and causing: the hitching; device to return to itsnormal central position on the screw or shaft as it may also he termed.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the construction and arrangementabove briefly described is disclosed in detaiL the numerals l and 2designate suitablebrackets which are secured in any suitable way to therear end of the tractor platform P. Both brackets as shown, could ofcourse, be duplicates of one another. However. the last named bracket 2includes an angular horizontal portion 3 which is equipped with spacedupstanding integral parts l, between which a bevelled gear 5 isdisposed, the latter serving a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. Itis 0loe accompanying drawings forming a vious that these bracketsconstitute bearings for a rotatable shaft 6 the latter being equippedwith screw-threads between the brackets as indicated at 7 thus enablingthe shaft to be conveniently termed a feed-screw. Here, it is to bepointed out that the usual pivoted draw-bar or hitching device of thetractor extends at right angles to the feed-screw and is connected withthe latter through the medium of what may be termed a travelling block 8which moves horizontally along the screw-threaded portion of the shaftwhen the latter is rotated; This leads me to say that any suitablemeans. such for instance as a sprocket wheel 9 driven by a chain 10 andlarger sprocket wheel 11. on the drive wheel W, may be employed foriniparting rotation to the feed-screw. It is of course understood thatany other suitable means may be employed for accomplishing this end.Referring now to the left-hand end of the last named element. it will beseen that bevelled gears 12 and are loosely mounted therein between theupstanding portions 4: of the bracket 2. These gears mesh with theaforesaid gear 5 and gear 12 serves to rotate the shaft in one directionwhile the remaining gear serves to rotate it in an opposite direction.it being obvious that this result is brought about by employ-- ment ofthe gear 5. It has been before indicated that these gears 12 and 13 areloosely mounted on the shaft. It is therefore necessary to providesuitable means for coupling; them with the latter for rotationtherewith. By preference I make use of a clutch let of any suitableform, the same being keyed or otherwise fixed on the shaft and beingslidable into engagement with the desired gears 12 and 13 forconnecting; the latter to the shaft for rotation with said shaft. Inorder to actuate the clutch I employ ahand-lever 15 the same beingfulcruined between its ends on the rear end of the tractor platform asindicated at 16 and. carrying a horizontal bar or link 17 which isconnected. with a clutch operating fork '18, the latter being pivotedintermediate its ends on the horizontal bar or arm 19 rigidly secured tothe depending part of the bracket 9.. With this construction, it isobvious that by grasping the lever and throwing it toward the right orthe left the clutch operating: fork will be rocked about its pivot insuch a way as to impart a sliding movement to the clutch 14. thusengaging the latter with the desired gear according to the direction ofmovement of the lever.

As already intimated. the invention in addition to eu'ibodying the partsso far described. includes novel means for automatically changing thedirection of rotation of the feed-screw. and the direction of movementof the draw-bar and travelling block when the last named parts havemoved a predetermined distance to the right. In carrying out this partof the invention, 1 make use of a substantially l..-shaped trip 20, thesame being detachably pivotally connected to the rear end of the tractorplatform at the juncture of its long;- and short arms as indicated at21. On the free end of the long arm, is a nose 22 and. this is designedto en gage a lateral pin 23 on the hand lever 15 to hold the latter inthe operative position disclosed in Fig. 2. A flat spring or the like24; employed for supporting the long arm of the trip to position it forengagement with the pin when the lever 15 is pulled toward the right forengagement with the trip. A careful examination of the part of thedevice now under consideration will disclose the fact that thedependiiu; part of the trip received between spaced lugs on anadjustable stop 24 rigidly secured to a sliding: shifter rod 25 carriedby the brackets l and 2. lit is obvious that when the traveling block 8moves toward the right-hand side of the tractor and comes intoengagement with the stop it imparts a sliding movement to the stop andshifter rod. thus rocking the trip about its pivot and agai 't thetension of the spring in such a. way as disengage the nose 22 from thepin 523. so doing", the coil-spring- 26 which is cou nccted with the rod1'? and bracket 2, serves to rock the operating lever about .its pivotand in turn shift the clutch to engage the rear previously uncoupledfrom the shaft. It is yet to be pointed out that a second stop 2'? issecured on the rod 25 and this stop in cl udes a depending portion 27with which the traveling block 8 is engragreable. The lower forked. end.28 of. the handdever is pivotally connected to this stop. It is obviousthat with this construction. when the block 8 returns to the approximatecenter of the shaft or feed-screw as it has been called, it strikes thepart 27 and slides the shifter rod 25 in such a way as to return thehandlever to the true vertical neutral position disclosed in 1 holdingit in this position age inst action of the spring 26.

In operation. it will be seen that as the tractor reaches the end of afield and it becomes necessary to turn the same to go back over thefield in a reverse direction the operator on the tractor simply graspsthe op crating; lever 15 and moves it to the inclined position disclosedin Fig. 2. In so doing, the pin 23 rides over the nose 22 and en- ;labehind the shoulder thereon. The trip 20 then serves to hold the leverin this position. The lever being in this position serves to move theclutch 14 in such a way as to en- ;irage it with the gear 13 and revolvethe shaft in a forward direction. This being the case. the draw-bar andtraveling block begin to move horizontally along the feed-screw from zto right until they come into engagemcnt with the stop 2 1 and, asbefore 'ated when this happens, the trip is autofit math-ally disengagedilroni the operating lever and the latter under the influence ot the onyes the dcpmnling part 27 of the stop 2?. '-i moves the operating leverto the truly arrth-al neutral position here disclosed and il'hln it insuch position against the action the spri as be tore described. Suchinovcincnt o! the draw-bar will serve to cause the trailer '(not shownhto accin'ately follow in the lltltl 'ti oil the tractor thus pre- Wntingthe trailer troin overrunning the planted, hills as ordinarily occurs.

A. carel ul consideration oi the foregoing dcta-ript'ion taken inconnection with the acionipanving drawings will be itOUIlCl suilr cicntto enable persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates toobtain a clear innlerstanilinc' ol the same. In view of this, a morelengthy and detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

lln all probability. the construction and arrangrment herein shown anddescribed will hc l'ound advantagemis and it is selected as lhcpreterrcd einl'iodin'ient oli the invention. i lowevcr. slight minorchanges in shape and El a. coming within the scope of the suboincdclaims ma y be resorted to as is understood.

I claim:

'l. A derice ot the class described comprising; a rotary shatt designedto be mounted on the rear end of a lead vehicle, a hitching deviceconnected to and horizontally movable on said sha'lt, means on saidshatt for ring; it in either a lorward or rearward TtlOll. a controllever for said means, and iii her means "for automatically actuatingsaid lever when the aforesaid device has moved a proleterniined distanceon the shaft and becomes engaged with said other means.

2. A device of the class described comprising a 'l'c 'l-s ,:i'c.\v to berotatably mounted on the rca r end (ii a lead vehicle. a block movableon said screw. :1 hitching device connected to said block. gearing onthe screw for rotating in a forward or rearward direc t on, a clutchcarried by the latter tor coupling the gears to the same. a clutchoperatin lever. and means associated with the lever and said block forautomatically con trolling the former when the latter has moved apredetermined distance in either direction.

A. device of the class described comprising a screw-shaft adapted to berotatably mounted on the rear end of a lead vehicle ears loosely mountedon said shaft means :iated with said gears for rotating them in.opposite direction. a hitching device conrn-ctcd to and movable alongsaid shalt, a cl -h fixed on the latter For coupling the dcsirc 'l gearthereto for rotation therewith a hand lever, means for holding thelatter in operative position, said means being released by said hitchingdevice when the latter has moved a predetermined distance, a com'icctionbetween said lever and clutch and a spring for pulling said lever in adicction to change the position of the same for operating the clutch androtating the shalt in an opposite direction.

-l-. .i device of the class described comprising brackets includingbearings for con nection to the rear end of a tractor, a shaft journaledin said bearings, a portion of said sha tt being screw-threaded gearingasso ciated with the shaft and one of said brackets for rotating theshaft in a forward or rearward direction. a clutch fixed on said shattl'or rendering said gearing effective, a hand-lever tulcrumed on thetractor, a connection between the lever and clutch for operating thelatter a block movable along the screw-threaded portion of said shalt, atrip for holding the lever in one of its eftective positions, and meansfor disengagin; said trip from said lever, being operated when theaforesaid block has moved a predetermined distance and becomes engagedwith said means.

A device of the class described comprising; a feed-screw designed to berotatably mounted on the rear end of a lead vehicle, gearing looselymounted on said screw for rotating the same in opposite directions, aclutch for coupling the desired gear with the screw, an operating lever,a connection between the lever and said clutch, a stopon the lower endof said lever, and a hitching device horizontally movable along saidscrew and normally engaging: said stop for holding: said lever in aneutral position, and a spring connected with said connection forengaging said clutch with one of said gears.

6. A. device of the class described c0mprising a screwtln'eaded shaftdesigned to be rotatably supported on the rear portion of a loadvehicle, means on said shaft for rotating it in opposite directions, aclutch for rendering said means el'lective and inetl'ective. operatingmeans for said clutch, a trip designed tobe pivotally mounted on the atorcsaid vehicle, being engageable with said operating means to hold thelatter in one of its efiective positions, and a hitching deviceconnected to and horizontally movable along said shaft, serving tooperate said trip when it has moved a predetermined distance in adirection toward the latter.

7. A device of the class described comprising a feed-screw designed tobe rotatably supported on the rear portion of a tractor, meansassociated with said screw for changing the direction of rotationthereof, an operating lever for controlling said means, a slidablymounted rod, said lever being connected at its lower end to said rod, astop on said rod, and a pivotally mounted trip device co-operative withsaid stop and lever for holding the latter in one of its operativepositions, and a hitching device horizontally movable along said screwand engageable with said stop for disengaging said trip from said lever.

' 8. A device of the class described compris ing brackets for connectionto the rear end of a tractor, said brackets including bearings, a shaftrotatably mounted in said bean ings and including a screw-threadedportion, a hitching device connected to and horizontally movable alongthe screwthreaded portion of said shaft, a shifter rod carried by saidbrackets, a stop on said rod including spaced cars, a substantiallyL-shaped trip lever designed for pivotal connection to the tractor, thedepending portion thereof being loosely received between said ears,gearing for rotating the shaft in opposite directions,

a clutch for coupling the desired gear to said shaft, and an operatinglever for the clutch, said trip being connected with said operatinglever and being disengaged therefrom when the aforesaid hitching devicemoves along the shaft and engages the aforesaid stop.

9. A device of the class described comprising a pair of bracketsdesigned for connection to the rear end of a tractor, said bracketsincluding bearings, a shaft journaled in said bearings and having ascrew threaded portion, gears loosely mounted on said shaft, a gearcarried by one of said brackets and co-operative with said gears forcausing them to rotate the shaft in opposite directions, a clutch onsaid shaft for coupling the desired gear with the shaft, a l'land-lever,a connection between the handlever and clutch, a spring connected tosaid connection, a trip for co-operation with said lever for holding itin one of its operative positions, a stop co-operative with said trip,and a traveling hitching device movable along said shaft and engageablewith said stop for disengaging the trip from said lever, as and for thepurpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ERNEST G. VVROUGHTON.

